Rhode Island man arrested in Stamford twice on drug charges

A Rhode Island man with an apparent affinity for Stamford was arrested twice this week in the city's developing South End, police said.

According to Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin, Clayton Benjamin, 31, of 248 Madison Ave. in Rhode Island, became startled when he spotted a patrol car coming toward him on Garden Street.

When Benjamin spotted the patrolman, he dropped a plastic bag containing about 10 grams of crack and began to walk in the opposite direction, Conklin said.

In addition to the crack, which has a street value of about $1,000, officers also seized about $500 in cash found in Benjamin's pockets, Conklin said.

He was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell.

Conklin said he's currently investigating why Benjamin was released Monday morning on a promise to appear in court Sept. 18.

During Benjamin's arrest, officers seized a .45 caliber pistol stashed in an abandoned vehicle several feet away. At another nearby location, officers recovered a rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition, police said.

Conklin said Stamford's narcotics unit was "fortunate" to receive a tip Wednesday evening from a South End resident who allegedly saw Benjamin and another man dealing drugs on the 700 block of South Pacific Street.

As officers approached the two, police said Derrick Gonzalez, 19, of 78 Garden St., began to peddle away on his bicycle and had to be tackled by an officer.

Gonzalez was found to be carrying a small amount of marijuana, and was charged with possession of marijuana and interfering with police. He was held on $1,000 bond.

Benjamin was charged with criminal trespass in the third-degree -- a misdemeanor -- and held on $25,000 bond.

He was arraigned at Stamford Superior Court and transported to Bridgeport Correctional Facility. Federal authorities are currently holding Benjamin on a detainer for violating the terms of his probation, stemming from a gun possession charge in 2005.

Benjamin has been arrested by Stamford police about a half-dozen dozen times since then on similar narcotics charges, police said.

Officers are still investigating where the guns and ammunition found Monday evening came from, Conklin said.